In mid 2026, the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme, which started development in1995, will see a new two-tiered accreditation framework. These being: a General Safety Accreditation (GSA) scheme and an Alternative Compliance Accreditation (ACA) scheme.
Driving hours will migrate to a Standard Hours and an alternative flexible Alternative Fatigue Management scheme that will eventually replace the existing BFM and AFM schemes.
Operators above 4.5 tonnes GVM will be required to develop and operate a Safety Management System (SMS) which will also include documented driving hours records. This extends this requirement for operators of 4.5 -12.0 tonne GVM vehicles.
Mass limits increases will see the existing general mass limits raised to the existing CML thresholds. This will relieve companies operating in CML from the existing NHVAS CML audits.
Height and length will be allowed for General Access to operate at 4.6m and 20m respectively.
CoR and Executive responsibilities will be strengthened under the new reforms.
Further information can be found at: